DM B's PbP Game Day 4 Quests: Phantom Phenomena (1st) (Inactive)

Game Master Beckett

Kyra draws her scimitar, and moves closer to the fray.

Move action to draw weapon, then single move.

Enora smiles grimly and moves closer to the action.

double move

Man, these site issues are killing me.

Enora, Kyra, and Oloch move closer, Oloch also calling on holy protection, while Yoon attempts to, but utterly fails to attack the beast with his growing mastery of the flames.

ROUND 2

Erasmus (), Adowyn (), & her Pet (-3)
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Centipede 1 (-4)
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Enora (), Kyra (), Yoon (), & Oloch ()

You aren't the only one. I think that the site has been down more in the last two weeks than in the last year!

Leryn takes another bite at his centipede and manages a much larger chunk this time, ass he tries to flip the beast over.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Grapple: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Adowyn will hold back, bow ready in case anything else shows up.

Erasmus is still up...

I'm still seeking a good (clean) metaphor for how often Paizo.com is down. In one fight we had a character knocked unconscious and healed several times versus the BBEG, which worked great as a metaphor, but only with that table....

How 'bout:

"The site is down more often than a snake's belt buckle in a room full of pit traps?"

lol!

Yes, it's very annoying. What funny is, I actually spoke with Jesse Davis about this, asking him to put up a warning for fellow PbPers that things where being difficult, and his response:
Is "ironic" the correct term for when you go to try to post a PSA about site outages, only to have the site go down while you are typing up said PSA. ;b

But, for what it's worth, it is being looked at, we are not alone, and it should be being fixed soon.

The second centipede falls to Leryn's mighty jaws, allowing you to proceed further into the darkness.

At the Well of Darkness
A broad well with low sides plunges into the middle of this large chamber. A heavy iron cover leans against the east wall. Near the well, a mound of gnawed bones, scraps of clothing, and discarded possessions speak to some unholy feast. From deep within the well rises a susurrus of faint scratches, scrapes, and breathing, but just as you enter, you see a small humanoid creature crawling from the well. It reacts poorly to your light, trying to shield it's eyes as though looking at the sun, but doesn't appear threatening.

Skin pale as a slug’s belly, eyes huge and bulging, this thing crawls down the wall like a spider, but its shape is hideously humanoid. It doesn't look to dissimilar to Gollum.

I have to ask... as this quest requires pregens, are there any pregens that actually know undercommon?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Unsure what the think of the strange creature, but discomfited by the gnawed bones and scraps, Kyra keeps her scimitar close at hand.

Is there a knowledge check that might identify this critter?

So, I was looking at some of the reported issues with Phantom Phenomena, and I noted one tht talked about no one had either Linguistics trained or spoke Kellid, which it seems is different from Kellish (which by chance is Kyra only), and does come up soon, too, and I figured I'd just roll with it. (I believe this came out before the Occult Pregens, so the Linguistics part might have changed, but I'm not sure). Not to long ago, I just checked to see that no one had Undercommon. Not sure about of all the Pregens, but those here, no one does. So, that being said, and from my perspective knowing what's actually going on, I think it still works fine, if a bit humorously. The Sense Motive part should be enough to make it a bit more clear, but, with your luck with certain checks at the start of this part, it's also entirely possible no one will make that. So, in that case, again, I'll just roll with it.

"What is that thing? Enora wonders. "Is it trying to say something to us? I'm not sure it looks too friendly."

sense motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 10
"Well, what have we here? Do you speak any other languages?"
Adowyn addresses the thing.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Looking for any threats or anomalies in the room.

I see a trend here. . .

I see a trend here. . .

Oh, was the site down again? ;)

Yoon waves and smiles. Everybody likes smiles.

Some folks don't like Oloch's smile ... it can be rather toothy :-)
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Oloch grins, baring his rather large fangs before putting his finger to his lips to signal he desire for silence ... while brandishing his greatsword for emphasis ...
Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

"It seems are 'buddy' here is hoping for reinforcements ... we should beware."

"Reinforcements from where? The well? Can we close it off with that iron cover!" Enora exclaims.

this site is driving me nuts today!!!

At Oloch's warning, Adowyn draws an arrow, keeping it nocked and whistles for Leryn to be on alert.

"Any of you strapping lads want to try to put the iron gate on the well?" Enora asks with some urgency.

"Right ... I'll give it a go."
Strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

While Oloch is moving to lift the cover back over the well, Kyra will take a moment to actually look down and see what's in there.
One eye trying to keep an eye on the creature up here.

Yoon taps her foot impatiently, waiting to see if the creature responds to Adowyn. She'd help move the grate, but she's little and it looks heavy.

Eyeing the creature, she makes little balls of flame in her hands, and tosses them from one hand to the other.

Hmmm...no GM posts for 8 days...

Yep. See the discussion thread, where he let us know he got deployed for a week or so. Hopefully, he'll return safe this weekend.

With so many games going, it's easy to forget why one is slowing down. (So this post is to remind myself as well.)

Ah, thanks so much. Indeed, too many games = forgetting some things. I should have reviewed discussion thread. :)

THAT, I have found, is the only drawback to GD proceedings. Most of the year, I keep my numbers down to maybe 2 or 3 games played and maybe 2 tables of the same game that I am running.. During GD, that goes up to 6 or 8 games played.

"It seems are 'buddy' here is hoping for reinforcements ... we should beware."

"OH YES. I SPEAKS COMMON LANGUAGE!" it practically shouts. "NO FIGHT. ME NO WANT FIGHT." <as one of it's feet slips slightly, sending a small pebble down the well.>

After the creature speaks, for whatever reason very loudly, you begin to hear noise coming from within the well, as if something, or rather somethings are beginning to stir.

Without waiting for an ominous voice to speak of the dark and dangerous things that dwell in the depths of the world, Yoon heads over to the well (hands out, as not to alarm or intimidate the creature), and peers in.

"Heeeelloooo!" She cocks her ear and listens for an echo. Golly, it's dark down there. She produces a light effect as far down as she's able.
Yoon's light produces heat and flame similar to a small torch, in addition to the light effect.

Adowyn draws an arrow back and levels it at the creature. "What is down there and coming up?" she demands
Intimidate: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Was Oloch able to get close enough to put the cover on the well?

Was Oloch still going to attempt it after learning more?

Not after hearing noises from the well ... at this point Oloch back away and cast Bless if he has time ...

After seeing Oloch back off putting the cover on the well, Enora exclaims "Prepare yourselves...we're going to have to fight all of them instead of just one!"

Within seconds, the sounds coming from the well suggest that whatever it is coming up, it's a small army at the least, and as more of them wake to the distraction from above, you begin to hear shouts for blood and battle.

Assured that he is not alone to face a well armed party, the creature retreats to the far corner, hoping against hope that it's allies make it in time.

Still no word on what we see looking down?

"Well, that doesn't sound good." Kyra says, at the sounds from below.

"I think maybe we should..." She adds, moving over to the cover, taking up Oloch's idea from earlier.

Oloch will open and toss his vial of acid down the well ... then tries to move the cover again ...
"This thing is heavy ... need more help."

Nothing really yet except for noise.

Enora tries to help lift the cover, but her small halfling arms hardly help at all.

"Help, everyone!" she yells.

str check assist: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 = 7

Sorry, because of the break we took, it's possible something got lost or forgotten, so let me to a brief recap of what's all going on so far, and we can kind of back up a little bit.

Long ago, the Hungry Mountains of Ustalav were home to Kellid tribesmen who understood the dangerous occult nature of this region and built great stone monuments to protect themselves from dark magic and esoteric threats.

The good Dr. Quolorum, your tutor and employer these last few months, has sent you into the Hungry Mountains investigate the tunnels underneath an ancient Kellid mound to look into one of these odd monoliths, and specifically the Kellid Glyphs. You traveled here and after fighting a few centipedes, stumbled into a chamber where you find a single strange creature native to the darkness below. He is startled, but tries to secretly wake something inside the well while speaking friendly words to you.

Finding that he succeeded, he then flees to the far side of the room, hoping that whatever is down the well makes it here in time. There is a very heavy lid to the well, but so far it seems to heavy to lift, with Oloch failing even with Enora's assistance. The sounds coming up from the well indicate that who or whatever is down there, they are climbing up fast and looking for a fight, but so far, you can not see what is down there, or how many. But you can hear a lot.

If I left any of this out, I apologize. During my travels, I had utterly lost any PDF reader on my computer, (new update didn't properly load as I was walking out the door). So, lets jump back in right now. Not in combat unless someone does something to attack, but lets assume that everyone is "up" as if it where a combat round.

Kyra was assisting as well. 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 <-- see!

Aid Another: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Adowyn runs over and tries to help seal the tunnel, but really is just in the way.

Just the actions as previously stated ... ;-)

With Kyra's help, you are able to slam the lid down over the well, and with a little bit of adjustment, if falls into a small groove. Just before hand, with your light source, you see at least 20 more of the pale Morlocks climbing up the well quickly, almost like thy can stick to it's stone walls, and leaping over each other to get to you.

In a few seconds they slam against the lid, and manage to move it slightly.

Suddenly the other creature, seeing that the reinforcements it had been counting on will not make it, it charges at you. Grabbing a piece of broken tender from the recent dig, leaps across the short distance with surprising speed and agility, and slams it into the back of Enora's head, drawing blood after a rather loud crack.

Random Target (alphabetical): 1d8 ⇒ 4
Leap Attack vs Enora (FF AC 11): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 <Hit>
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 = 8

Round 1

The Bloody Horde!!!
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Morlock ()
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Erasmus (), Yoon (), Oloch (),
Adowyn/Leryn (/), Enora (-8), & Kyra ()

Yoon takes a step back, and releases fire (what else?!) at the morlock.
RT, into melee: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 - 4 = 8
fire: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Adowyn whistles at Leryn, and into battle he goes.
Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Damage ??: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Trip ??: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Adowyn sends two arrows off at the Morlock
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Round 1
"As I thought ..."
Oloch moves and swings his greatsword at the morloch ...
Greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 for Slashing: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 6) + 6 = 15

Uh... is there a lock or a latch for the cover? Pretty sure 20 of them can move it if they get going. =)

Kyra stands on the grate doing what she can to keep the rest of the creatures from opening it up again.

"This isn't going to hold for long." She calls worriedly. "There are a great many of them down there!"

Not wanting to move off of the cover, she will call on the blessing of Sarenrae to assist.

cast bless (+1 to hit for all)

Enora reels as the creature blind-sides her. Blood trickles down the feisty halfling's face.

guessing Oloch cleaved it in two...

As Oloch finishes the creature off, she turns back to the well cover.

"There has to be something to activate to close it...but how?"

Going to roll some knowledge checks to see if I can figure it out...

knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
knowledge religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

More than a few of you cut the little bastard down, while the others do their best to keep their weight on the lid, and the small horde trapped inside from getting out.

As the Morlock falls, you hear something glass hit the floor inside of a sack at it's belt. It doesn't shatter, though, luckily. A quick search reveals oddities: several possessions of the deceased smith Seb Furnwell. His bag contains a few basic blacksmithing tools as well as a tin of alchemical cement. Underneath the bag is a gilded breastplate bearing the canine heraldic symbol of a lesser Ustalavic family.

Enora identifies the alchemical cement immediately for what it is, snatches it up quickly, and administers a quick seal around the lid and the well. Within seconds it binds, holding he lid on securely and giving you some time to breath for a moment as the Morlocks trapped inside wail and pound at their new tomb.

Taking some time, you investigate and record the various glyphs on the monolith, and once you have done all that you can, return to Dr. Quolorum, who eagerly listens to the tale of your exploits.

"A fantastic job. Fantastic. I am impressed, and I'd say that you have earned ever copper of your wages."

I honestly thought that one would go a lot faster than it wound up being.

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- - - PART 5 OF 6: UNIVERSITY - - -

Before heading out for your next mission, this one most certainly a walk in the proverbial, if not literally in this case, park, you have a few moments to ask around, grab a bite, and perhaps do a bit of shopping in the big city, a place your travels have often avoided these last few months.

Sharing is caring. . .

and

Dr. Quolorum’s office is a single-story, 20-by-20-foot square building made of fitted limestone and covered in ivy vines. The door has a lock, but is swung partially open. With the letter you received, you also received a spare key, allowing you access to the office. Many of you have been here, if for a short time in the past, though it's likely been some time.

The contents of the room float aimlessly about as if loosed from the bounds of gravity. A large oak desk spins slowly in the center, and a matching carved oak chair floats near the ceiling. The walls are lined with low bookshelves, but the books and countless other items that once rested there drift gently in midair. Ivy-covered windows to the west and east provide only dim light.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Kyra will remark offhandedly about the general unkempt nature of the university grounds.

"Was in much better condition last time I was here." She comments, unconcerned.

When they reach the Doctor's office, however, she is instantly on guard, as the door swings slightly ajar.

The sight of the room elicits a small gasp of surprise.

"Oh my. This wasn't quite like this last time, either." She adds, muttering a quick prayer to Sarenrae.

detect magic and look around, trying to determine what might be happening.

"Anyone see the purple vial?" She asks, fearing the worst.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

edit: ha, a 20, followed by a 1.... heh

"Woah. Cool." Yoon starts jumping, trying to see if she'll float as well.